Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-08-04
QUEER CREATURES.
HfdeOus Reptiles and Insects, Both IA,
less and OtherwIsa

HfdeOus Reptiles and Insects, Both Harm.
less and Otherwise.
There are many species of lizards
Astounding upon the sandy ''mesas.''
and one can hardly move a bit of rock
without disturbing the siesta of one or
more of these bright-eyed, inofensive
little creatures, which would seem tn
prove themselves descendants of Eve,
for more curious bits of animal life
were never known. Thus curiosity
will even overcome their natural fears,
for while writing upon large rock two
or three came out and ventured clear
up to the paper, tasted an envelope,
and upon being frightened away soon
returned to pursue their Investigations,
which, could a person keep quiet
enough, would be carried to . rather
obnoxious point.
The horned toad is another little ami
NAL which seems to have a fondness
for human company. and many of them
make their home under porches and
steps. They much assemble large
lizard, save that around their necks
are number of sharp, protruding
horns, about half an inch long and the
same distance apart, and which give to
them a most ferocious look. They
are of dark stone color and
perfectly harmless. There are quite
a good many centipedes, which, how
ever, it is well to inspect from
a distance. Upon seeing the first one
running across a room a person is
ready to take his oath that the reptile
is not less than three feet in length,
but which, upon actual measurement,
would probably be about nine inches,
as that is the average length. They
are a sort of transparent brown and
have two rows of legs the entire length
of the body. They are put together in
sections and look like the hundred
legged worms often found in Ohio
around rotten wood or under old
boards. 1t is not the bite of the cent?
pede that is so poisonous, but each end
of his numerous claws contains the
venom, and when frightened, or an
attempt is made to brush him on, every
claw is fastened into the flesh and the
poison discharged. The only way
when one gets onto any portion OF the
flesh is to keep perfectly quiet until
the visitor walks off of his own account.
This, however, is by no means easy
thing to do, as one at first impulse is
very apt to make a decided endcavor
to remove the offender This poison is .
never known to prove fatal, but pro-
duces an intense irritation which will
affect the whole system in the same
manner as the bite of rattlesnake.
Tarantulas are to be found quite
plenty in the mountains, and when
camping out our party had frequently
to shoot number in order to clear u
spot on which to spread their blankets.
This may seem small game for shoot
ing, but mans revolver is
his handiest weapon in this
country. These tarantulas look like
huge spiders, with legs about two
inches long and covered with long
black hair. 1t is not safe to get too &.
near one of these creatures, as they Q
are capable of springing into the air
several feet and are apt to get too near
one for personal comfort; yet, if left
alone, they will never modest one. But
they are furious warriors among them
selves, often fighting one another for
several days. Their bite is poisonous.
but not dangerously so. Scorpions
are found to be quite plenty around
the foothills, and their sting is very
painful. They resemble a moDstrOus
flea and are very fond of crawling into
beds. Many people, newcomers
especially, are in the habit of making a
thorough examination of their couch
before retiring, not caring to receive
the warm reception which would be
awarded them by these small intrud-
ers. There is a small insect about the
size of a flea, dark brown color and
without wings, which lives in the sand
and is said to be the most poisonous of
any thing here. 1t is called the ''In-
dian killer" that being the only name
for it that can be learned. 1t, how
ever, is almost unknown, and after
residence of several months L haVS
never seen but one, and that dead
one.-GlObe "a. r. Cor. San Francisco
Chronicle.